Fastener for blind-slats.



R. M. FRANKLIN.

FASTENER FOB. BLIND SLATS.

APPLICATION FILED now. 26, 1911.

' Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. FRANKLIN, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

FASTENER FOR BLIND-SLATS.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT M. FRANKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Blind-Slats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in window shutter locks, and anti-rattling clevices, and has for an object the arrangement of improved means connected to the slats and adjusting rod of the shutter only.

An object of the invention is the arrangement of an improved spring actuated device connected with the central adjusting rod of the shutter and one of the slats for maintaining the adjusting rod normally frictionally engaging all of the slats, and for causing some of the slats to press against one side of the frame of the shutter, and the remaining slats against the opposite side for locking the respective slats against movement, and for preventing rattling of the moving parts of the shutter.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shutter with an embodiment of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the slats of the shutter and the connecting means between the same and the adjusting rod, the latter being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the shutter illustrating the slats in open position and disclosing the relative positions assumed thereby under the action of the present invention. Fig.4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, an alternative form of the invention being illustrated therein. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation on an enlarged scale of the elastic element employed in the form illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the frame of a shutter, and 2 the slats thereof. The slats 2 carry the usual adjusting rod 3, and are piv- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 26, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912. Serial No. 656,934.

oted in frame 1 in the usual manner. Connected to any of the slats 2 is a screw 4 provided with a head so that when a spring 5 is connected therewith the same will not slip of]? or become accidentally removed. Spring 5 at the opposite end to that connected with screw 4 is movably mounted in hook 6 which is pivotally connected to rod 3 by screw 7. The screw 7 is preferably arranged to pass through hook 6 and enter the side of rod 3, so that when spring 5 is caused to engage the screw 4, the rod 3 may move over to the position shown in Fig. 4 or to substantially that position as may be permitted by the retaining staples 8 and 9. The retaining staples 8 and 9 are of the usual structure, but the slat 2 containing the screw 4 has the ordinary staple 9 removed therefrom and a rectangular staple 10 substituted in order that the slat 2 connected with screw 4 may reciprocate more or less freely.

In operation after the screw 4 has been placed in position and hook 6 also placed in position, spring 5 is connected with hook 6, and then connect-ed with screw 4. The distance between hook 6 and screw 4 and the length of spring 5 are such that spring 5 will be brought under tension when placed in position. This will cause the slat having screw 4 connected therewith to move longitudinally so that screw 4 will approach rod 3, and rod 3 will be turned over to substantially the position shown in Fig. 4. The approaching of these two members is not the primary object of this arrangement, but the primary object is the movement of the slat 2 containing screw 4 so that the end 11 will impinge against one side of frame 1. As rod 3 is given a comparatively free movement by reason of the structure of staple 10 the remaining slats are caused to move in an opposite direction to the slat containing screw 2, and caused to impinge against the opposite side of frame 1. The pressure of these slats against the respective sides of frame 1 is of course regulated by the tension of spring 5, and it is designed to look all of the slats in any of their adjusted positions, and at the same time prevent rattling of the slats, rod 3, and associated parts.

In Figs. 5 and 6 will be seen a slightly modified form of the invention in which spring 5 is incased in a tubular casing 12, which casing is closed at end 13. In one side of the casing 12 at end 14 is a slot 15 merging into a comparatively large opening 16. This arrangement permits the head of screw 7 to pass through the casing 12, and then permits the casing to move longitudinally until the body of the screw 7 strikes against the end of slot 15. Arranged in casing 12 is a shaft 17 which is surrounded by spring 5, and which carries a piston or stop 18 against which spring 5 presses. Shaft 17 merges into an eye or ring 19 which is adapted to fit over screw 4. By this construction and arrangement the spring 5 is protected, but operates properly for causing a proper longitudinal move ment of the slats for causing the same to engage the sides of the frame 1.

The spring 5 in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 1, and the spring 5, the tubular casing 12 and the shaft 17 with its stop 18, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, constitute elastic elements for connecting the adjusting rod 3 with the slat 2 that carries the screw 4.

What I claim is:

1. In a blind stop, the combination with the pivoted slats of a shutter and an adjusting rod connected thereto, of means for permitting one of said slats to slide in relation to said adjusting rod, and an elastic element connected to said last mentioned slat and to the adjusting rod to cause said slat to move in an opposite direction to the direction of movement of the remaining slats, whereby to frictionally engage the endsof all of the slats with the shutter frame and hold the slats in adjusted positions.

2. In a blind stop, the combination with the pivoted slats of a shutter and an adjusting rod pivotally connected with each of said slats, of means for permitting one of said slats to slide in relation to said adjusting rod, an elastic elementa spring securing member engaging said elastic'element and connected to said last mentioned slat and to the adjusting rod to cause said slat to move in an opposite direction to the direction of movement of the remaining slats, whereby to frictionally engage the ends of all of the slats with the shutter frame and hold the slats in adjusted posit-ions, said elastic element serving also to bind the adjusting rod in engagement with the edges of the slats to prevent the latter from rattling.

3. In a blind stop, the combination with a shutter provided with pivotally mounted slats and a slat operating rod pivotally connected with each of said slats, of a lock therefor comprising a spring, means for securing one end of the spring to the operating rod, a screw inserted in the edge of one of the slats to engage a loop or coil of the opposite end of said spring, and a rectangular connecting device secured to the slat carrying said screw for connecting said slat with said rod and providing means whereby said spring may cause a longitudinal movement of said last mentioned slat in one direction, and a longitudinal movement of the remaining slats in an opposite direction for causing all of the slats to impinge against the sides of the frame of said shutter.

4. In a blind stop, the combination with a shutter formed with pivotally mounted slats and an operating bar pivotally connected with each of said slats, of a lock comprising a substantially rectangular staple connected with one of said slats, a staple connected to said rod interlocked with said rectangular staple for slidingly connecting said last mentioned slat with said rod, a hook mounted on said rod, a spring connected with said hook, and a spring securing member engaging said spring and entering said last mentioned slat for maintaining said spring under tension and for permitting said spring to pull in one direction on said rod and in the opposite direction on said slat, whereby said last mentioned slat will press against one side of the frame of said shutter and strain will be communi cated through said rod to the remaining slats for causing the remaining slats to press against the opposite side of the frame of said shutter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. FRANKLIN.

Witnesses JOHN W. HARRIS, C. HARPER ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

